Salt Lake City Highlights

In April, we took a family trip out west to, as Justin put it, "get a new aunt" (Alex's brother, Hebe, got married). At dinner the night before Carley (the bride) walked by our table in her wedding dress and McKenzie leaned over to me and said, Mama, there's a princess! From then on Carley was dubbed "Princess Carley" and Hebe, her prince:

The happy couple!

Justin fell in love, again, and was heart-broken the next morning to learn that Princess Carley and Hebe were indeed getting married.

Justin and Princess Carley

photo by Matt Eastman

McKenzie and Princess Carley

photo by Matt Eastman

Hebe and Carley got married in the Draper Temple and, even though J and Mc didn't get to attend the ceremony, I think you'd agree they had a great time:

We also spent a lot of time on Temple Square.  I loved seeing all the flowers in bloom and touring the roof of the Conference Center.  Justin LOVED the organs in the Tabernacle and the Conference Center and McKenzie had to have her picture taken by the "pink" flowers -- I'm pretty sure they both enjoyed the various fountains: 

We took the time to visit one more temple (actually the first) in Alex's hometown:

The Bountiful Temple

McKenzie's third birthday was April 26 (the Saturday we flew home) but Aunt Rach and Aunt Sam threw a fun party for her the day before:

Justin and McKenzie are already planning their next trip to SLC but, in the meantime, they take turns being Princess Carley and Prince Hebe . . .

The playroom is done!

This was the color of the roombefore:

This is what it looks like now:

(The black is chalkboard paint.)  I think it turned out awesome!  And Justin and McKenzie love it!

I heart Maggie

Justin has a crush.  Our next door neighbor, Maggie, age 8, has been over to play with the kids several times this past week.  Yesterday morning on the way to school Justin informed me that he had a secret but that it wasn't for me, it was for Maggie.  That afternoon when Maggie came over to play Justin tells her that he has this secret and, of course, Maggie asks what it is.  Justin says "I've been waiting all day to play with you!"  Nothing big.

Today, as we're saying goodbye to Maggie, Justin says to her "do you remember what I told you yesterday?"  She says "yes" and he says "okay, just don't forget."  Now I'm a little interested . . .

Over dinner I ask Justin (several times) what it is he said to Maggie yesterday.  His replies are all the same "I don't know," "I don't remember," etc. Silence. "That I love her."  WHAT?! 

Me:  "Oh, you said I love you to her?"

J:  "Yes."

Me:  "And what did she say?"

J:  "She said that she loved me too."

Me:  "When did you say this to her?"

J:  "When we ran down to the stop sign."

Me:  "Oh."

I know it's all innocent, but any parenting tips at this point would be much appreciated . . . 

Happy Easter!

I'm a little late with this post, but we did have a great weekend. 

Saturday was spent with great friends, food, egg decorating and the hunt . . .

Sunday was a little quieter.

  I love these pix of my beautiful children!

The cast is off . . .

YEAH!

We're just a little excited.  

Do you know how they take off a cast?  With a saw.  I was more nervous than McKenzie - the blade kept getting so close to her little fingers . . . McKenzie's first words: "Now, we can go swimming!"  They needed another x-ray and I couldn't stay with her, but she didn't cry once.  When I came back into the room she said "we needed some privacy for just us girls - not you, her [the tech] and me."  That's my big girl!  Of course, she still wanted me to hold her hand when the doctor examined her wrist but was quick to give him a high-5 when he pronounced her well.  We celebrated with lunch at "the playground Chick-Fil-A" and a little posin' . . .